Almost everyone in Squamish seems to know someone impacted by the hundreds of wildfires burning across the province.
Some have relatives in Williams Lake or friends in Cache Creek or on the Ashcroft First Nation reserve, or former workmates in the Village of Clinton.
As of this week, roughly 132,000 hectares have burned in the province since April 1.
The fires have been swift and terrifying, forcing 37,000 so far from their homes under evacuation orders.
People’s homes, where they raised their children or hoped to, in places like Lake Country and Boston Flats have burned to the ground.
Some fire evacuees have arrived in Squamish and are being assisted and supported by our Canadian Red Cross Society, emergency social services team.
District staff are also on standby to support wildfire response in the interior.
Seeing images on the news of hot flames licking roads, thick cement-coloured smoke hugging a community’s main street and people crying from fear, exhaustion and loss have become a nightly routine, but should make all Squamish residents vigilant about preventing wildfires here.
So far this summer Squamish has been lucky, but it is early in the fire season.
Just last summer we were impacted by wildfires. Though not a threat to our population, the smoke was concerning.
It got so thick downtown that the throat burned and the eyes watered.
Humans, according to the BC Wildfire Service, have caused half of the fires burning in B.C..
Squamish Fire Rescue has been busy responding to incidents involving campfires or smoke seen around Squamish, according to District staff.
That is ridiculous, frankly.
We know better and we have to do better.
Many of us could not afford to be away from our jobs or businesses for an extended period due to evacuation and Squamish can’t afford to lose its recreational capital in its forests and trails that draw so many to our hotels, restaurants and attractions.
It is important to note that provincial and municipal fire bans apply to all open fires including campfires, Tiki torches, solid fuel burning types of grills – don’t be that doofus who ends up causing a fire.
If your own personal ethics won’t stop you, note that the fine for starting a campfire is up to $1,150. per person. If the fire extends to cause a wildfire, the costs associated with firefighting will also be the responsibility of the person who started it.
And kudos should go to firefighters, police officers, social service and emergency service teams who are working in overdrive to lessen the impact of the fires. Our hearts are with you.
